Telephone-mouthpiece protector.



U. RUSSELL.

TELEPHONE MOUTHPIEGE PROTECTOR.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 21, 1913.

1,09 1,965. Patented M21231, 1914 falwwzwtoz COLUQA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA c.

CHINA RUSSELL, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

TELEPHONE-MOUTI-IPIECE PROTECTOR.

Application filed July 21, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHINA ltussnnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone- Mouthpiece Protectors; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to telephony and more especially to mouth pieces or transmitters; and the object of the same is to produce an improved portable and collapsible protector whereby the user may avoid bringing his or her face or lips into contact with the transmitter.

Another object is to produce an inexpensive collapsible device of this character which may be carried in the pocket or grip.

The invention consists in the details set forth below and illustrated in the drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view of this device, showing its use in connection with the mouthpiece of a telephone transmitter; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device alone in its distended condition, and Fig. 3 a similar view of the device in its folded condition; Fig. 4: is a front elevation.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates what might be called the head of this protector which is formed in the shape of a truncated cone, of a size to fit loosely into a telephone transmitter mouth piece M, and the smaller end of the head is surrounded by a rubber ring or gasket 2 which makes contact with the inner wall of the mouth piece when the head is inserted therein. The latter may be of paper or other soft material, or it may be of light sheet metal as it is comparatively small in size. But in any event it carries at its upper side a pair of pliable tongues 3 to hook over the mouth piece and hold the device thereon, and for this reason said tongues are by preference of metal. The larger end of the head carries a ring 4: which reduces its size, and into this ring projects the smaller end of what I will call a cone 5 which is by preference made of paper, fabric, or other light and foldable material in order that it may be collapsed into the condition shown in Fig. 3 when the device is to be inserted in the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 311, twi l.

Serial no. 780,301.

pocket or packed in the grip. This cone has its smaller end projecting through the ring into the head and suitably secured therein, as for instance as by stitching it thereto at 6, and when the cone is flattened out the larger end is cut off on a broken line 7 so as to produce two angles or wings 8. These are useful for making contact with the cheeks at opposite ends of the mouth when the cone is pressed open as seen in Fig. 2 and the device is in use.

Secured upon the top of the head in any suitable manner, as by a staple or fastener 9, is a brush 10 of hair or other fibrous or porous and necessarily flexible material which overhangs the gasket 2 and the open smaller end of the head and which, when the device is in use, rests against the perforated partition P within the mouth piece. This brush may be removed and washed or replaced when it becomes foul, and its func tion is to prevent the entrance into the head of particles of dust or germs.

The use of this device is obvious. In its folded or collapsed condition it may be car ried in the pocket or the grip, and even if the head 1 be of metal it is so small in size that it takes up but little room, though I would prefer that the cone 5 be of paper or fabric in order that it may be collapsed when stored. The user takes it from its customary position, pinches the cone 5 so as to open it as seen in Fig. 1, pushes the conical head into the mouth piece M of the transmitter and bends the tongues 3 over the same as indicated, and thereby the device is held in place with suflicient force to permit the user to insert his or her lips into the outer end 7 of the cone and use the telephone. After using, the protector is removed and replaced in the grip, if the user be a traveling man, although it is quite possible for the user to leave the device permanently attached to the mouth piece in case he or she intends to use the telephone to the exclusion of others. If the parts be of materials which are cheap, the entire device can be burned when it becomes foul; though in any event I would remove or replace or cleanse the brush quite frequently.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a tubular head in the shape of a truncated cone, a ring within its larger end, a collapsible cone whose smaller end is secured through said ring, and means for holding the head Within a telephone mouth piece.

2. A device of the class described comprising a tubular head in the shape of a truncated cone, a ring Within its larger end, a collapsible cone Whose smaller end is secured through said ring, and a brush detachably secured to the top of the head and overlying its smaller end.

3. A device of the class described comprising a tubular head in the shape of a truncated cone, a ring Within its larger end, a collapsible cone Whose smaller end is secured through said ring, and a pair of pliable metal tongues secured to the top of the head and adapted to be bent over the telephone mouth piece.

4. A device of the class described comprising a tubular head in the shape of a truncated cone, a ring Within its larger end, a cone secured through said ring, a brush detachably secured to the top of the head and overlying its smaller end, and a pair of pliable metal tongues secured to the top of the head and adapted to be bent over the telephone mouth piece.

5. A device of the class described comprising a tubular head in the shape of a truncated cone, a ring within its larger end, a collapsible cone Whose smaller end is secured through said ring, a rubber gasket surrounding the smaller open end of said head, and means for holding the latter Within a telephone mouth piece.

6. A device of the class described comprising a tubular head in the shape of a trun cated cone, a ring Within its larger end, a

collapsible cone Whose smaller end is secured through said ring, a rubber gasket surrounding the smaller open. end of said head, and a pair of pliable metal tongues secured to the top of the head and adapted to be bent over the telephone mouth piece.

7. A device of the class described comprising a head in the shape of a truncated cone, a gasket around its smaller end adapted to fit Within a telephone mouth piece, means connected With the head for holding it re movably Within a telephone mouth piece, and a brush detachably secured to said head and overlying its open smaller end for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence'of two subscribing Witnesses.

h r CHINA 2 RUSSELL.

mark Witnesses: V

J. F. ROGERS, EFFIE L. Roenns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

